Amazon buys digital comics platform ComiXology

PanARMENIAN.Net - Amazon extended its domain over the world of words on Thursday, April 10, by acquiring ComiXology, the giant digital comics platform. Terms were not disclosed, NYTBits blogreports.

“ComiXology’s mission is to spread the love of comics and graphic novels in all forms,” David Steinberger, co-founder and chief executive of comiXology, said in a statement. “There is no better home for ComiXology than Amazon to see this vision through.”

The easiest way to describe ComiXology, which is based in New York, is as an iTunes for comics. The company began in 2007 as a community site for comics fans. It introduced a digital reader and store in 2009.

With the sales of physical comics faltering, ComiXology is playing a leading role in developing the technology that is allowing the craft to move online. Its library of content includes 40,000 comics from 75 major publishers. Last fall, ComiXology had its 200-millionth download.

Amazon said it planned to invest in the company and expand its team.

Amazon sells physical books and e-books, and owns AbeBooks, a search engine and payment platform for used-book stores around the world. AbeBooks is not branded as being an Amazon company and is not integrated into the company’s main shopping site, offering a model for ComiXology.